Chapter 205 Who Do You Want to Invite Out?
Michael didn't respond right away after hearing Sophia's words. Instead, he glanced at Olivia, wanting to see her reaction.
He thought, if Olivia softened her attitude a bit, giving the painting to Bianca wouldn't be out of the question.
But he was disappointed. Olivia kept a cold expression, showing no sign of asking for help.
Michael's irritation grew. His face darkened slightly as he said, "Well then, let's get this painting for Aiden. Bianca can look at something else."
When Bianca heard this, she pressed her lips together, her eyelashes lowered, unable to hide her sadness and disappointment.
Olivia's expression wasn't good either.
She had already guessed that this man wouldn't stand up for Bianca.
She hadn't expected him to anyway, but seeing this result again still made her heart ache for her daughter.
Olivia let out a cold, mocking laugh. "Why should we? I called the staff over first. If it weren't for you people, I would have already paid.
If we're really talking about who came first, we wanted this painting first."
Seeing Olivia upset made Sophia feel quite pleased.
Especially since Michael was on her side, she couldn't hide her smugness when facing Olivia.
Using a reasonable tone, she tried to negotiate with Olivia, saying, "Olivia, Aiden spoke up first just now. He's just a kid, so please don't fight with him over this, okay?
Aiden just won an award a few days ago. This is an important stage for his development, and Michael takes it very seriously."
Olivia's face was icy. She found this whole situation truly ridiculous.
Back then, when Bianca was learning to paint, Michael looked down on her in every way.
But in front of someone else's child, he was ready to spend millions of dollars without hesitation, preparing to buy him a painting and support him—right in front of Bianca!
Olivia gritted her teeth, then suddenly laughed. "Michael, do you know now why Bianca never wants to see you every time you try to meet her?"
As these words fell, Michael's pupils contracted. He instinctively looked at Bianca.
Bianca looked dejected, her eyes red, but she didn't act cute or beg him to buy the painting like Aiden did.
His heart clenched as he suddenly realized something.
At this moment, Aiden hugged his leg and said dejectedly, "Daddy Michael, maybe I shouldn't have this painting. Let's give it to Bianca. I won't fight with her.
It was my fault just now. I shouldn't have said I wanted this painting."
Michael looked at his guilty expression, unable to speak for a moment.
Olivia found it disgusting. This kid had inherited his mother's talent—always so good at putting on a show.
Olivia didn't want to waste any more time and directly called over the nearby staff member. "Please take this painting down for me. I want to buy it."
"Okay." The staff member didn't want to get involved in their dispute. Seeing Olivia speak up, they moved forward to get the painting.
Just then, a voice suddenly rang out. "What's going on here? Aiden, why do you look so upset?"
Everyone turned to look. The newcomer wore a brown robe and thin-framed glasses, giving him a scholarly, refined appearance.
But his eyes carried a hint of snobbery and arrogance.
Olivia didn't recognize him, but everyone else immediately identified who he was.
"Why is Mr. Puckett coming over?"
"This is a painting exhibition. Their argument must have caught Mr. Puckett's attention."
"Wait, it looks like Mr. Puckett knows them."
By now, Delmar Puckett had already walked up to them.
Aiden looked at him with red-rimmed eyes and called out, "Mr. Puckett."
His young voice sounded as if he had suffered a great injustice.
Delmar had just taken on a student who happened to be the son of Emerald City's wealthiest man. This was something that would benefit his reputation when mentioned.
Therefore, he wanted to make a good impression in front of Michael and the others.
So he looked at Aiden with concern and asked, "What's wrong?"
Sophia's heart stirred when she saw him approach, and an idea formed in her mind.
Only a few painters had come to the exhibition today.
And Delmar was undoubtedly the one with the highest status among them, essentially having the final say.
She had been put in her place by Olivia several times before. Today, she was determined to get everything back!
Sophia immediately stepped forward and said, "Mr. Puckett, it's nothing really. We were just browsing when Aiden saw this painting, and he really connected with it.
Didn't you say the development stage is very important?
I thought, if he was drawn to this painting, there must be some special resonance, so we wanted to buy it. But we didn't expect this lady wanted it too.
However, Aiden is already prepared to give it up."
She spoke very skillfully, making Aiden sound very polite while implying that the painting he liked was being taken by someone else.
Hearing this, Delmar immediately looked at Olivia with sharp eyes, his tone carrying a hint of pressure. "Miss, my student saw this painting first. Everything should follow a first-come, first-served rule, don't you think?
Taking what others want is not polite behavior."
Olivia seemed to realize he was in league with Sophia.
She wasn't intimidated. Instead, she sneered, "You're right, so I'm returning those words to you. We saw the painting first, and we asked for it first."
Aiden immediately said, "It's not right for adults to lie. I spoke up first!"
People generally don't doubt children's words.
Delmar frowned, saying unhappily, "Miss, Aiden is still young and wouldn't lie. As an adult, you keep arguing with a child—isn't that rather undignified?"
The people around also looked at Olivia with reproach, thinking she shouldn't bully a child like this.
Unexpectedly, Bianca, who had been looking dejected with red-rimmed eyes, suddenly lifted her head and defended Olivia. "My mommy didn't lie! We came first, and my mommy spoke up first!"
Bianca's voice was fierce in a cute way.
Olivia was quite surprised.
She hadn't expected Bianca to be so brave.
She could protect Olivia now too.
Olivia felt her heart melt, and of course, she couldn't let Bianca down.
She immediately shot back, "Mr. Puckett, you just said children don't lie?"
Delmar was stumped, his face darkening.
He hadn't expected this woman to be so difficult.
Most people would back down when they saw him step in, but this woman was being unreasonable.
With Michael standing beside him, Delmar didn't want to leave a bad impression, so he said, "Since this lady insists, don't blame me for using my special privileges."
He looked at the nearby staff member. "I'm Delmar, a painter invited to the exhibition today."
He showed his credentials, then continued, "My student wants this painting. Please take it down immediately."
The staff member who was about to get the painting for Olivia hesitated upon hearing Delmar's words.
Although they knew Olivia had asked for the painting first, this was, after all, a painting exhibition.
Almost every invited painter had works displayed here.
If paintings were sold, it affected their commission.
If their actions caught the painter's eye, there might be opportunities for future collaboration.
The staff member's heart immediately swayed, and they responded, "Yes, Mr. Puckett."
Olivia's face darkened instantly.
She raised her hand to stop them, her eyes showing displeasure as she questioned, "What do you mean? I spoke up first. As a staff member, are you going to show favoritism?"
The staff member said politely, "Not at all. It's just that our exhibition has a rule—invited teachers have priority purchasing rights."
Olivia actually laughed. "If that's true, why not let these painters choose first from the start? Now you're displaying the works, letting customers view them, and when customers want to buy, you say painters have priority selection rights. Are you playing games with your customers?"
This serious accusation made the staff member's face change.
More and more guests gathered around.
Some people who didn't know what was happening also came over to watch.
After hearing Olivia's words, some customers who wanted to buy paintings also spoke up unhappily, "This lady is right. If painters have priority, why announce this rule after the exhibition opens?"
"Exactly. If you only serve painters, why hold an exhibition, why sell tickets? Do you think we have nothing better to do?"
"This is completely unreasonable."
Hearing this, Delmar's face also changed.
He never expected this person to be so difficult.
But he knew that if this matter escalated, it would also affect his reputation.
He said coldly, "How dare you! When you can't argue, you resort to slander? Do you know where you are? If you continue making trouble, I'll have no choice but to have you escorted out!"
Olivia clenched her hands, feeling upset, and was about to continue speaking when a cold voice came from behind.
"Who are you going to escort out?" As the voice fell, Andrew's figure appeared behind the crowd.
The guests blocking the way automatically made way, everyone feeling the imposing presence Andrew radiated.
Olivia also saw him. The man's eyes were cold as frost, his presence commanding.
Accompanying him was an elderly man with a vigorous spirit.
Michael hadn't expected to see him here, and his face suddenly darkened.
So Olivia and Bianca went out with this man today?
An inexplicable anger burned in his chest. His hands clenched, his face dark as coal.
Sophia felt gleeful seeing this scene.
She couldn't wait to see this woman involved with another man.
That way, Michael would completely give up on her and stop having those thoughts.
Andrew also saw Michael, but only gave him a brief glance before looking away, as if he didn't consider him worth his attention at all.
When his gaze fell on Olivia, everyone around noticed that his previously cold eyes suddenly softened.
The man asked gently, "What's going on?"